Wheel.



J. E. STRIBTBLMEIERJ.

WHEEL. l APPLICATION TILED 110V. 10, 1911.

v Patented Apr. 15, 1913 the construction of Wheels yprovided with -lilre shape, to bring its two ends into proX- 'progressively flaringfrom thehub Ato thev4 `the` spokes to the hub; Fig.' 5 is a perspec- #UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIC'E;

JOHN n. STRIETELMEIER, or GINCTNTIATI. onio, Assienon Tov THEJDEAL WHEEL COMPANY, oFoINoINNATI, onIo, A ooRron-ATIoNor oHIo.

WHEEL.

Specification of LettersPatent.

ratentediipr. 15,1913.

Application iled November 1 0, 419411. Serial No. 659,638.

To au whom, t may conce/m.'

- Be it known that I, JOHN E. S'rRinTnL- Mninn, a citizen of the 'United States', residing at Cincinnati, in the county off-Hamilton. and State'of Ohio, have invented certain new. and useful Improvements'in lVheels, of which the following is a specification.

' My invention relatesto improvements in spring spokes which are adapted for various uses, and more particularly for use upon antomobiles and other similar conveyances, for the/purpose of dispensing withpneumatic Itires. i

The object of my'invention isto provide a wheel of this characterf-which' combines strength `and lightness, compactnessv 'and' neatness, efficiency and durability, 'speed and ease in assembling, simplicity and economy in construction, as well as a wheel so con structed and arranged as not to be liable to rattle or to require attention when in use.v

Other objects andadvantages of my invention will he lapparent, and still others will be hereinafter presented.

' My invention contemplates among other things a wheel embodying a series ofunitary spring spokes, each curyed into a funnel-- imity at 4the hub, -and having its` portions periphery of the rim. and locked to the latterby longitudinal f'integral side flanges.

`My invention also consists in the means' for fastening. said spring spoke to the hub andto the rim respectively.

My invention also consists in the parts and in the peculiar combination andl arrangement ofparts as herein set. forth and claimed. pf,

In the drawing, which serves to illustrate the construction, application and use `of my invention as applied to a wheel: Figure 1 is a. view 'showing part of thel wheel. in eleva.- tion and part in section; Fig. 2 is' a perspective view of my spring'spokeVFig. A3 is a section on the line 3 -3 of Figi; Fig. 4f is a perspective view -of a vlwedgeela'mping member adapted to secure the inner end of tive vievv'of a washer adapted to -restupon the elongated end of the @spring spoke loeneath the nutgFig. 6 is a modified ormof washer; Fig. Y is a perspective view of the inner ends of the spring spokes; and Fig.' 8 is asplit ring ada pted'to hold'the clamping members in place wli'ile the clutch is' loosened.

5 In the embodiment of my invention, .as

nillustrated. and which shows a. preferred construction, Il represents one yof my .novel spring spokes which is preferably made ofV flat spring steel and is formed substantially triangular in, shape, as shownvin Fig. 2, in which 1t is seen that its middle portion 3 1s .curved outwardlv to conform to the inner.

the wheel and alsb to permit the wheel to be iop clutchwhi'ch is adapted to secure the wedge clamping member'in firm' position upon then 'said grooves surface of the mm of the wheel against which it abuts and iscurved near lits edges to lengage the 'sides ,of said rim andthat the two remaining portions of` said spokes are curved inwardly and adapted to meet and .rest against each other a portion of their length. each ortion"havin a flange 2 eX- o. P c n tending away from each other in opposite directions at an angle toI said spoke and adapted to lconformto andl rest upon the hub.

In order to provide cur-ately and which 'p events any shifting or slipping of the hub relatively to the spokes, I vform the outer 'surface 'of said hub 6 polyg-v onal. substantially as shown.

The hub (i of the 'wheel may be' provided with a ber collar 7 .fitting closely thereon against which the flanges. 2 oit the springs 1 abut.l I provide Wedge clamping'members 8,..

which are formed of elongated plates each Q3() 'adapted to conform .to the shape .of the flanges 2 upon 4its inner surface and curved upon its outer surface with a groove 22 eX- tend'ing transversely at each end and taperwedge 11 "at the other end. I'also proyide split rings which are adapted to fit into '22 to 'lioldsaid members 8in position during the 'further assembling of readily' removed from the hub without disengagi'ng the Wedge clamping members 8.

Near the inner-end of the hub 6 I provide.: A

an inwardly projecting tapering annular clamping flange 10, as clearly shown in 'Fig'. io

3. I -also provide a clutch 13 having .a tapering edge 12, said clutch being adapted to be screwed upon the outerend of the hub Gand being provided with a polygonal -exterionsurface for the purpose of screwing llo and unscrewing so that. when the wedge end 9 o'f each clamping member 8 lbrought l a neat and compact rg0 construction which 1s 'easy to assemble' acing-'to form a Wedge 9 at one end anda-s of bolts passing through holes surface between -over the wedge end 11 of each clamping member 8 the inner ends of the spokes 1 wil] be securely clamped to the hub 6.

Therim of the wheel is provided with a wood felly 14, to which I secure the outer enlarged ends of my spring spokes, by means wood felly and through holes 5 in the transverse member 3 of the spoke, to which it is firmly secured by means of nuts 17.

It will be seen that the enlarged end of each spring spoke bears over nearly the entire surface of the wooden felly from spoke 'o spoke, thereby securing a large bearing the felly and the spring spoke, and obtaining a secure fastening of the parts together, thereby preventing any settling of the spring into the wood, and by means of the flanges 4, greatly strengthening the wheel against side thrusts. By this construction it will be noted that the hub flanges 2 of each spring spoke abut the flanges 2 of the adjacent spring spoke,

- and that these flanges form a continuous and complete bearing extending entirely over the fiber collar 7, so that when the wedge clamping members 8 are brought into position upon the flanges 2, and the clutch 13 is screwed tightly thereon, the spring spokes are all firmly clamped in proper position upon the hub at a single operation. The springs are thus pressed against fiber instead ofmetal, preventing the wearing of the metal and doing away with the possibility of rattling It also'gives a better seat to overcome any inequalities in the surface of the metal. p

The manner of assembling my wheel is substantiallyas follows: Place each spring spoke in the posit-lon shown in Fig. l an secure it to the rim by means of bolts 15 and nuts 17, placing either an elongated washer '23, as shown in Fig. 5, or a round washer 24,

as shown in Fig. 6, between the nut 17 and spring (spokeyl. I then place one of said split rings 21 upon each side of the central portion .of the wheel and insert the'wedge clamping members 8 between said rings and #the flanged ends of said spring spokes one at a time until all of said clamping members have been placed in position, said split rings tting into the grooves 22 of said clamping members, thus holding the clamping members' in position while the.wheel is being assembled.

When the fiber collar 7 is used it is placed in position upon thhub 6, as shown 1n Figs. l and 3. I then place these assembled parts upon the hub 6 until one tapering end of each clamping member 8 engages lthe an` nular fiange 10. I next screw the clutehl havinga tapering edge 12 upon the other tapering ends of said clamping members 8 16 in the speedier and cheaper until said clamping members have been wedged tightly and securely upon the fianged ends 2 of the spring spokes 1 whereby they are firmlyheld in ositlon. I then screw the dust cap 18 (whic is provided with smaller threads than the clutch 13) upon the end of the hub thereby securely locking said clutch in fixed position upon said hub.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a neat, convenient`and etlicient means for securing the inner ends of the springsin fixed relation to the hub without the use of bolts, thus preventing the loosening of bolts and consequently avoiding rattlin or dam age which would be caused there y, while at the same time providing a simpler,

the wheel, asthe driving home of the clutch fastens all of .the spring spokes onto the hub simultaneously. lThls also provides a quicker and less laboriousA way of tightening the wheel after a period of use. v

An important advantage of my present construction is in the more extended contact of the spring vspokes with the felly, by which a more secure union of the parts .is obtained, by means of nuts and bolts which bind the spring spokes directly to the felly. This also provides for extended or elongated tlanges formed integral on the edges of the spring spokes to engage the surface of the wood felly, and prevent any damage to the spring spokes due to side thrusts, and alsopreventing any disarrangement of the spring spokes with relation to the rim of the wheel from any cause such as when hitting curbs o r otherwise when 'the machine is sld- Extending each spring spoke over a considerable distance of the surface'of the wood' Vfelly, prevents y the outer end of the sprin spoke from settlin into the wood, whic would result in weaening the wheel at that point, and throwing it out of center upon one side, which would loosen the bolts and also prevents pressure upon one point of such fellywhich'would deforin and flatten the felly under such pressure.

The wheel may be provided with any form of tread surface desired, such as a solld rubber tire 19, as shown, the same being secured thereon by any suitable means such as the .holding member 20.

It will be noted that my improved hub is well adapted for use in connection with ball bearings, as shown, or any of the other forms in use, such as roller bearings.

It'will be readily seen that a wheel constructedin accordance with my invention is extremely simple in. its construction, neat in its appearance and convenient to assemble also that the spring spokes are so formed as to provide an almost continuous bearing surface of the spring spokes with the rim and hub respectively.

manner of assembling The elongated rim-en'dsj of vthe spring spokes are plaeeda' suflicient distance from each other to allow for some expansion or elongation in length under heavy tension, witlioutcoining in contact with leach other,' therebyiallowing the freest actionunder the heariest loads and jars without any liability of these parts striking each other and inaking a noise or causing wear. ,It will be observed that the number of boltsand nuts necessary to secure the part-s together has ,been reduced to a minimum.

My invention is capable ofsome modification without departure frbm its spirit or; seope., i

. I claim:

1. A wh eel of the nature disclosed-coinbin-'- ing a hub liai'finga polygonal periphery providing at one end an overhanging flange7 a spoke-spring'radiating from said hub and havingan end-flange extending circumferen- "tially on a facet of the periphery of said hub atone sideof said o'verhanging'flange, a' block surinounting saidend-flange and having one -'end engaging said A overhanging flange,l and means for forcing said block tioward said flange, whereby it'inay be wedged radially inward upon said end-flange to clamp the same upn'the periphery o said hub. I'

Q. A ,wlieel of thenaturedisclosed combining a hub having a polygonalperiphery providing at one end an vvoverhariging flange. a spokespi'ing 'radiating from said'hub and 'haring an end flange extending circumferem I tially on a facet of theperiphery of [said hub at" one's'ide of said overhangingflange, a block surmounting' Said end-flange and having one end engaging said overhanlging flange, and'meaiis for forcing saidblockto'- ward said. flange,A wheiiebyit maybe wedged radially inward upon said end-flange' to clamp the same upon the periphery'of said liubgsaid block adapted to abut the adj'a' cent radially extending portionj of said spi-ing and supportthe saine' 4against ltorsional strains.

A wheel of -the nature disclosed comybining a' hub having: a polygonal periph- 50'ery providing' at one end an overlianging flange,v a spoke spring radiating from .sa id hub and having 'anr end'. flange extending circumferentially on al facetA of the'peripheryof said yhub atA one side Lofsaid `'over- 55 hanging flange, .fa blolr 'su'rinunt-in'g said'` end flange and having one eind engaging said overhanging flange and a collar on said hub4 having an y o veijh:inging flangeajdapte'd toen-y v,f jage the otheiend of said block "and force said block toward said flange, whereby "it may be wedged radially inward nporisaid end-flange -to clamp the .same-upon thepe- 4. A 'wheel omprising a 'hiibfliaiiing' a spokes are sed'uiely clamped to said hub, and

- poses specified.,

- directly connecting` and securing said middle pl'eriph'ery Yproviding 'at one end-'an inclined polygonal periphery proyding la saperi-'Iig' flangefneaii one end, flanged. spring spokes nijlapted to bear against facets of said-hub,`

a. rim, means for s ecuring said spokes to saidriinyclamping members each having tapering ends, a' clutch having a tapering 7oedge. adapted to engageone tapering end of each clamping member and force the other tapering end o'f'e-ach clamping member beneath said tapering flange wherebyfsaid means for l'ockingsaidclutch inposition,"v substantially asset forth 'and for t-he pury 5; Wheel comprisingaliub, a rim, a flat i spring steel triangular'ly shaped'sl'iolre hay` ing its middle portion curved outwardlyfto conform to the inner surface of the rim 'of 'said wheel and having flanges adapted to engage the sides' of :saidl rim, means for portion to said ri ni,`= the two remaining por tions of saidV spoke being curved 'inwardly yand -adaptedto meet and rest upon each othei'ra portion of theirlength and each having a flange extending away from eachother in opposite directions ata-n angle to said spoke. and" adapted to conform to'aiid rest upon the hub, a tapering'flange upon said' hub, wedge clampingmembers adapted to conform to the flanged ends o'f said spring 95 spoke and engage said flangesupon the hub; aclutc'h having a tapering edge ladapted-to vengage Vthe' other end of each wedge shaped clamping member whereby whensaid -clutcli isinoyed in proper position uponl said hub the flanges of said spring spokes will be v clamped tightly upon said hub, and mean-s wherebyltlie clutch is securely locked, substantially as setl forth 'and foithe purposes specified. y

'6. A. `wheel comprising a rinna hub, a series of flat V.spring spokes each reversely Y' curved to nieet itself a lportionof its length and spread apart a portion of its length. and curved betweenv tlie hub` and rim endsl of said spoke, flanges on the hub end of-each spoke, wedge clamping members tapered at each Gnd adapted to rest upon and project .beyond said flanges, said hub liavingan annular tapering flange on its inner-end, a pfiber collar on 'said hub upon which said flanges 'abut and bear` and a clutch having a l apei'ingedge adapted to engage the taper-4 ing or 'wedge shaped end of 4.said wedge 'clamping memberswlereby they-are firmly 120 clamped @upon saidv spoke flanges, substan,

tially as -s-et' forth.Y

. Awlieel. of thenature ,disclosedconibinin tra' hub-member having 'ol (tonal e. P ya oyerhanging 'peripheral 'llla'n'geg 'se'ries of blocks' '-closely"spaced pe'rip'h'eral'ly 'around `theghub-of s aid wheel andveach at'on'e'end vengaging 'said overhanging`flangefa4 series' offflatfspolre springs radiating outwardly from between said blocks, and means for forcing said,` blocks toward said flange whereby they may be forced closer together Vto clamp the spoke springs back-to-back therebetween.

8. A, Wheel of the nature disclosed com- `bining u hubni'cmber, a spaced series of flat.

spoke springs arranged edgewise to the plane of the wheel andA radiating back-to-back from lsaid hub-member, a 'series of blocks alternately in close elationwithsaid radial springs and' having their side walls conformingr to an intimate contact with said springs, and adjustable means for engaging the extremities of said blocks and adapted adjust- .ably to close said blocks toward the center of the Wheel whereby tangential clamping pressures may thereby be exerted on the back-to-back .springs between each pair ol' blocks taken 1n succession.

9. A resilient wheel of the nature -disclosed combining a rigid hub providing at one en d an overhanging peripheral flange, a

rim at; a relatively great distancewtherefrom, an equispaced plurality of radially elongated resilient spokes of sheet metal arranged edgewise to the plane of the wheel and extendingfrom saidrigid hub t0 said rim, s aid spokes at the hub being formed of a serles of right and left spring portions arranged in pairs and contacting back-toback and providing flange-like feet'extending in opposite directions on the periphery of said hub, said back-to-back spring portions progressively diverging from one another, a clamping block between each successive pair of back-to-back spring portions and resting on the said oppositely directed feet, each of `said clamping blocks having one end engaging said flange, and means for engaging the other ends of said blocks whereby they may be forced closer together to clamp saidspoke springs to said hub..

' 10. A resilient wheel of the nature disclosed combining a rigid hub providing at one end an overhanging peripheral flange, a rimv at a relativelygreat distance therefrom,

an equispaced plurality of radially elon gated resilient spokes of sheet metal arranged edgewise to the plane of the wheell and extending from said rigid hub to said rim, said spokes at the hub being formed of a series of right and left spring portions arranged in pairs'and contacting back-toback and providingflange-like feet extending in opposite directions on the periphery .of said hub, a clamping-block between each successlve pair of back-to-back spring portions resting on the said ppositely directed feet, each of said clamping blocks having a beveled end engaging said flange, and

Wedge means for engaging the other ends of said blocks whereby they may be forced closer together to clamp said spoke springs to said hub.- 'y

11. A resilient wheel of the nature disclosed combining a rigid hubproviding at one end an overhanging peripheral flange, a rim at a relatively great distance therefrom, an equispace'd plurality of radially elongated resilient spokes of sheet metal' ar- .ranged ed ewise to the plane of the Wheel and exten ing from said rigid hub to said rim, saids okes at the hub being formed of Aa series o lright and left spring ort-ions arrangedin .pairs and contacting ack-toback and providing flange-like feet extending inopposite directions on the periphery of sa'id hub, said back-to-back spring portions progressively diverging from one another,v a clamping-blockbetween .each successive. pair of back-to-back spring portions and resting on .the saidpoppositely directed feet, each of said clamping-blocks having one end engaging said flange, and adjustable means for engaging the other ends of said blocks and adapted adjustably to close said blocks toward the center of the wheel whereby tangential, clamping pressures may be exerted on the back-to-back springs between each pair of blocks taken in succession.

12. A resilient wheel ofthe nature disclosed `combining a rigid hub providing at one end an overhangingperipheral flange, a rim at a relatively great distance therefrom, an Aequispaced plurality of radially elongated resilient -spokes of -sheet metal arranged edgewise to the lane of the wheel and extending from sai rigid hub to said run, s'aid spokes at the hub being formed of' a series of. right and left spring portions Abeveled flange adapted to engage the other end of oneof said blocks whereby it may be forced closer to said hub.

JOHN E. STRIETELMEIER. Witnesses JAMES N. RAMsEY,

H. J. YOUNG.

Copier of this patent may be Vattained for ve eents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

